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Villegas-Vázquez EY, Quintas-Granados LI, Cortés H, González-Del Carmen M, Leyva-Gómez G, Rodríguez-Morales M, Bustamante-Montes LP, Silva-Adaya D, Pérez-Plasencia C, Jacobo-Herrera N, Reyes-Hernández OD, Figueroa-González G. Lithium: A Promising Anticancer Agent. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:537. [PMID: 36836894 PMCID: PMC9966411 DOI: 10.3390/life13020537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Lithium is a therapeutic cation used to treat bipolar disorders but also has some important features as an anti-cancer agent. In this review, we provide a general overview of lithium, from its transport into cells, to its innovative administration forms, and based on genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data. Lithium formulations such as lithium acetoacetate (LiAcAc), lithium chloride (LiCl), lithium citrate (Li3C6H5O7), and lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) induce apoptosis, autophagy, and inhibition of tumor growth and also participate in the regulation of tumor proliferation, tumor invasion, and metastasis and cell cycle arrest. Moreover, lithium is synergistic with standard cancer therapies, enhancing their anti-tumor effects. In addition, lithium has a neuroprotective role in cancer patients, by improving their quality of life. Interestingly, nano-sized lithium enhances its anti-tumor activities and protects vital organs from the damage caused by lipid peroxidation during tumor development. However, these potential therapeutic activities of lithium depend on various factors, such as the nature and aggressiveness of the tumor, the type of lithium salt, and its form of administration and dosage. Since lithium has been used to treat bipolar disorder, the current study provides an overview of its role in medicine and how this has changed. This review also highlights the importance of this repurposed drug, which appears to have therapeutic cancer potential, and underlines its molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Yebrán Villegas-Vázquez
- Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Investigación Experimental Zaragoza, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico
| | | | - Hernán Cortés
- Laboratorio de Medicina Genómica, Departamento de Genómica, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Ciudad de México 14389, Mexico
| | | | - Gerardo Leyva-Gómez
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Miguel Rodríguez-Morales
- Licenciatura en Médico Cirujano, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Universidad Anáhuac Norte, Academia de Genética Médica, Naucalpan de Juárez 52786, Mexico
- Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 11340, Mexico
| | | | - Daniela Silva-Adaya
- Laboratorio Experimental de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Ciudad de México 14269, Mexico
| | - Carlos Pérez-Plasencia
- Laboratorio de Genómica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Ciudad de México 14080, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Genómica, Unidad de Biomedicina, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico
| | - Nadia Jacobo-Herrera
- Unidad de Bioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán (INCMNSZ), Ciudad de México 14080, Mexico
| | - Octavio Daniel Reyes-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular del Cáncer, Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Investigación Experimental Zaragoza, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico
| | - Gabriela Figueroa-González
- Laboratorio de Farmacogenética, Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Investigación Experimental Zaragoza, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico
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2
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Yang C, Zhu B, Zhan M, Hua ZC. Lithium in Cancer Therapy: Friend or Foe? Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15041095. [PMID: 36831437 PMCID: PMC9954674 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15041095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Lithium, a trace element important for fetal health and development, is considered a metal drug with a well-established clinical regime, economical production process, and a mature storage system. Several studies have shown that lithium affects tumor development by regulating inositol monophosphate (IMPase) and glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3). Lithium can also promote proliferation and programmed cell death (PCD) in tumor cells through a number of new targets, such as the nuclear receptor NR4A1 and Hedgehog-Gli. Lithium may increase cancer treatment efficacy while reducing side effects, suggesting that it can be used as an adjunctive therapy. In this review, we summarize the effects of lithium on tumor progression and discuss the underlying mechanisms. Additionally, we discuss lithium's limitations in antitumor clinical applications, including its narrow therapeutic window and potential pro-cancer effects on the tumor immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunhao Yang
- School of Biopharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Bo Zhu
- School of Biopharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
- Correspondence: (B.Z.); (Z.-C.H.)
| | - Mingjie Zhan
- School of Biopharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Zi-Chun Hua
- School of Biopharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Correspondence: (B.Z.); (Z.-C.H.)
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Ghanaatfar F, Ghanaatfar A, Isapour P, Farokhi N, Bozorgniahosseini S, Javadi M, Gholami M, Ulloa L, Coleman-Fuller N, Motaghinejad M. Is lithium neuroprotective? An updated mechanistic illustrated review. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 2023; 37:4-30. [PMID: 35996185 DOI: 10.1111/fcp.12826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegeneration is a pathological process characterized by progressive neuronal impairment, dysfunction, and loss due to mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Many studies have shown that lithium protects against neurodegeneration. Herein, we summarize recent clinical and laboratory studies on the neuroprotective effects of lithium against neurodegeneration and its potential to modulate mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Recent findings indicate that lithium regulates critical intracellular pathways such as phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI3)/protein kinase B (Akt)/glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3β) and PI3/Akt/response element-binding protein (CREB)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). We queried PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Elsevier, and other related databases using search terms related to lithium and its neuroprotective effect in various neurodegenerative diseases and events from January 2000 to May 2022. We reviewed the major findings and mechanisms proposed for the effects of lithium. Lithium's neuroprotective potential against neural cell degeneration is mediated by inducing anti-inflammatory factors, antioxidant enzymes, and free radical scavengers to prevent mitochondrial dysfunction. Lithium effects are regulated by two essential pathways: PI3/Akt/GSK3β and PI3/Akt/CREB/BDNF. Lithium acts as a neuroprotective agent against neurodegeneration by preventing inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction using PI3/Akt/GSK3β and PI3/Akt/CREB/BDNF signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fateme Ghanaatfar
- Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Ghanaatfar
- Student Research Committee, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
| | - Parisa Isapour
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Negin Farokhi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University (IUAPS), Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Mahshid Javadi
- Chronic Respiratory Disease Research Center (CRDRC), National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mina Gholami
- School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Luis Ulloa
- Center for Perioperative Organ Protection, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Natalie Coleman-Fuller
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Majid Motaghinejad
- Chronic Respiratory Disease Research Center (CRDRC), National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Farmani AR, Salmeh MA, Golkar Z, Moeinzadeh A, Ghiasi FF, Amirabad SZ, Shoormeij MH, Mahdavinezhad F, Momeni S, Moradbeygi F, Ai J, Hardy JG, Mostafaei A. Li-Doped Bioactive Ceramics: Promising Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. J Funct Biomater 2022; 13:162. [PMID: 36278631 PMCID: PMC9589997 DOI: 10.3390/jfb13040162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Lithium (Li) is a metal with critical therapeutic properties ranging from the treatment of bipolar depression to antibacterial, anticancer, antiviral and pro-regenerative effects. This element can be incorporated into the structure of various biomaterials through the inclusion of Li chloride/carbonate into polymeric matrices or being doped in bioceramics. The biocompatibility and multifunctionality of Li-doped bioceramics present many opportunities for biomedical researchers and clinicians. Li-doped bioceramics (capable of immunomodulation) have been used extensively for bone and tooth regeneration, and they have great potential for cartilage/nerve regeneration, osteochondral repair, and wound healing. The synergistic effect of Li in combination with other anticancer drugs as well as the anticancer properties of Li underline the rationale that bioceramics doped with Li may be impactful in cancer treatments. The role of Li in autophagy may explain its impact in regenerative, antiviral, and anticancer research. The combination of Li-doped bioceramics with polymers can provide new biomaterials with suitable flexibility, especially as bio-ink used in 3D printing for clinical applications of tissue engineering. Such Li-doped biomaterials have significant clinical potential in the foreseeable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Reza Farmani
- Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences Department, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14166-34793, Iran
- Tissue Engineering Department, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa 74615-168, Iran
- Students’ Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14166-34793, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Salmeh
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran 14155-6619, Iran
| | - Zahra Golkar
- Department of Midwifery, Firoozabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Firoozabad 74715-117, Iran
| | - Alaa Moeinzadeh
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14496-14535, Iran
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14496-14535, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Farid Ghiasi
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14496-14535, Iran
| | - Sara Zamani Amirabad
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Yasouj University, Yasouj 75918-74934, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hasan Shoormeij
- Emergency Medicine Department, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14166-34793, Iran
| | - Forough Mahdavinezhad
- Anatomy Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14166-34793, Iran
- Department of Infertility, Velayat Hospital, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin 34199-15315, Iran
| | - Simin Momeni
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz 83151-61355, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Moradbeygi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 71348-14336, Iran
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 71348-14336, Iran
| | - Jafar Ai
- Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences Department, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14166-34793, Iran
| | - John G. Hardy
- Department of Chemistry, Faraday Building, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YB, UK
- Materials Science Institute, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YW, UK
| | - Amir Mostafaei
- Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, 10 W 32nd Street, Chicago, IL 60616, USA
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Lithium inhibits NF-κB nuclear translocation and modulate inflammation profiles in Rift valley fever virus-infected Raw 264.7 macrophages. Virol J 2021; 18:116. [PMID: 34088327 PMCID: PMC8177254 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01579-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a zoonotic life-threatening viral infection endemic across sub-Saharan African countries and the Arabian Peninsula; however, there is a growing panic of its spread to non-endemic regions. This viral infection triggers a wide spectrum of symptoms that span from fibril illnesses to more severe symptoms such as haemorrhagic fever and encephalitis. These severe symptoms have been associated with dysregulated immune response propagated by the virulence factor, non-structural protein (NSs). Thus, this study investigates the effects of lithium on NF-κB translocation and RFVF-induced inflammation in Raw 264.7 macrophages. Methods The supernatant from RVFV-infected Raw 264.7 cells, treated with lithium, was examined using an ELISA assay kit to measure levels of cytokines and chemokines. The H2DCF-DA and DAF-2 DA florigenic assays were used to determine the levels of ROS and RNS by measuring the cellular fluorescence intensity post RVFV-infection and lithium treatment. Western blot and immunocytochemistry assays were used to measure expression levels of the inflammatory proteins and cellular location of the NF-κB, respectively. Results Lithium was shown to stimulate interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production as early as 3 h pi. Production of the secondary pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), were elevated as early as 12 h pi. Treatment with lithium stimulated increase of production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin-10 (IL-10) in RVFV-infected and uninfected macrophages as early as 3 h pi. The RVFV-infected cells treated with lithium displayed lower ROS and RNS production as opposed to lithium-free RVFV-infected control cells. Western blot analyses demonstrated that lithium inhibited iNOS expression while stimulating expression of heme oxygenase (HO) and IκB in RVFV-infected Raw 264.7 macrophages. Results from immunocytochemistry and Western blot assays revealed that lithium inhibits NF-κB nuclear translocation in RVFV-infected cells compared to lithium-free RVFV-infected cells and 5 mg/mL LPS controls. Conclusion This study demonstrates that lithium inhibits NF-kB nuclear translocation and modulate inflammation profiles in RVFV-infected Raw 264.7 macrophage cells.
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6
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Martinez-Escobar A, Luna-Callejas B, Ramón-Gallegos E. CRISPR-dCas9-Based Artificial Transcription Factors to Improve Efficacy of Cancer Treatment With Drug Repurposing: Proposal for Future Research. Front Oncol 2021; 10:604948. [PMID: 33614489 PMCID: PMC7887379 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.604948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the high resistance that cancer has shown to conventional therapies, it is difficult to treat this disease, particularly in advanced stages. In recent decades, treatments have been improved, being more specific according to the characteristics of the tumor, becoming more effective, less toxic, and invasive. Cancer can be treated by the combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and/or drug administration, but therapies based on anticancer drugs are the main cancer treatment. Cancer drug development requires long-time preclinical and clinical studies and is not cost-effective. Drug repurposing is an alternative for cancer therapies development since it is faster, safer, easier, cheaper, and repurposed drugs do not have serious side effects. However, cancer is a complex, heterogeneous, and highly dynamic disease with multiple evolving molecular constituents. This tumor heterogeneity causes several resistance mechanisms in cancer therapies, mainly the target mutation. The CRISPR-dCas9-based artificial transcription factors (ATFs) could be used in cancer therapy due to their possibility to manipulate DNA to modify target genes, activate tumor suppressor genes, silence oncogenes, and tumor resistance mechanisms for targeted therapy. In addition, drug repurposing combined with the use of CRISPR-dCas9-based ATFs could be an alternative cancer treatment to reduce cancer mortality. The aim of this review is to describe the potential of the repurposed drugs combined with CRISPR-dCas9-based ATFs to improve the efficacy of cancer treatment, discussing the possible advantages and disadvantages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Martinez-Escobar
- Environmental Cytopathology Laboratory, Department of Morphology, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Benjamín Luna-Callejas
- Environmental Cytopathology Laboratory, Department of Morphology, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Eva Ramón-Gallegos
- Environmental Cytopathology Laboratory, Department of Morphology, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
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The Effect of Lithium on Inflammation-Associated Genes in Lipopolysaccharide-Activated Raw 264.7 Macrophages. Int J Inflam 2020; 2020:8340195. [PMID: 32774832 PMCID: PMC7397420 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8340195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Lithium remains the preferred Food and Drug Administration- (FDA-) approved psychiatric drug for treatment of bipolar disorders since its medical establishment more than half a century ago. Recent studies revealed a promising role for lithium in the regulation of inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurodegeneration albeit unclear about its exact mode of action. Thus, the intention of this study is to delineate the regulatory mechanisms of lithium on oxidative stress in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) activated macrophages by evaluating its effects on nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity and mRNA expression of multiple oxidative stress-related NF-κB genes. Raw 264.7 macrophages were treated with up to 10 mM lithium, and no change in cell proliferation, viability, growth, and cell adhesion was observed in real time. Pretreatment with low doses of lithium was shown to reduce nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-activated macrophages. A reduced internal H2DCFDA fluorescence intensity, indicative of reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, was observed in LPS-activated Raw 264.7 macrophages treated with lithium. Lithium has been shown to lower the production of the chemokine RANTES; furthermore, this inhibitory action of lithium has been suggested to be independent of glycogen synthase kinase-3 β (GSK3β) activity. It is shown here that lithium modulates the expression of several inflammatory genes including IκB-α, TRAF3, Tollip, and NF-κB1/p50 which are regulators of the NF-κB pathway. Moreover, lithium inhibits NF-κB activity by lowering nuclear translocation of NF-κB in LPS-activated macrophages. This is the first study to associate Tollip, Traf-3, and IκB-α mRNA expression with lithium effect on NF-κB activity in LPS-activated Raw 264.7 macrophages. Although these effects were obtained using extratherapeutic concentrations of lithium, results of this study provide useful information towards understanding the mode of action of lithium. This study associates lithium with reduced oxidative stress in LPS-activated Raw 264.7 macrophages and further suggests candidate molecular targets for the regulation of oxidative stress-related diseases using lithium beyond bipolar disorders.
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Mohammed DAE, Ahmed RR, Ahmed RG. Maternal lithium chloride exposure alters the neuroendocrine-cytokine axis in neonatal albino rats. Int J Dev Neurosci 2020; 80:123-138. [PMID: 31994228 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this work was to clarify whether maternal lithium chloride (LiCl) exposure disrupts the neonatal neuroendocrine-cytokine axis. Pregnant Wistar rats were orally administrated 50 mg LiCl/kg b.wt. from gestational day (GD) 1 to postpartum day 28. Maternal administration of LiCl induced a hypothyroid state in both dams and their neonates compared to the control dams and neonates at lactation days (LDs) 14, 21 and 28, where the levels of serum free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxin (FT4) were decreased and the level of serum thyrotropin (TSH) level was increased. A noticeable depression in maternal body weight gain, neonatal body weight and neonatal serum growth hormone (GH) was observed on all examined postnatal days (PNDs; 14, 21 and 28). A single abortion case was recorded at GD 17, and three dead neonates were noted at birth in the LiCl-treated group. Maternal administration of LiCl disturbed the levels of neonatal serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interferon-gamma (INF-γ), leptin, adiponectin and resistin at all tested PNDs compared to the control group. This administration produced a stimulatory action on the level of neonatal cerebral serotonin (5-HT) at PND 14 and on the level of neonatal cerebral norepinephrine (NE) at PNDs 21 and 28. However, this administration produced an inhibitory action on the level of neonatal cerebral dopamine (DA) at all examined PNDs and on the level of neonatal cerebral NE at PND 14 and the level of neonatal cerebral 5-HT at PNDs 21 and 28 compared to the corresponding control group. Thus, maternal LiCl exposure-induced hypothyroidism disrupts the neonatal neuroendocrine-cytokine system, which delay cerebral development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dena A-E Mohammed
- Division of Anatomy and Embryology, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Rasha R Ahmed
- Division of Histology and Cytology, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - R G Ahmed
- Division of Anatomy and Embryology, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
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de Araujo WM, Robbs BK, Bastos LG, de Souza WF, Vidal FCB, Viola JPB, Morgado-Diaz JA. PTEN Overexpression Cooperates With Lithium to Reduce the Malignancy and to Increase Cell Death by Apoptosis via PI3K/Akt Suppression in Colorectal Cancer Cells. J Cell Biochem 2016. [PMID: 26224641 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.25294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Lithium is a well-established non-competitive inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), a kinase that is involved in several cellular processes related to cancer progression. GSK-3β is regulated upstream by PI3K/Akt, which is negatively modulated by PTEN. The role that lithium plays in cancer is controversial because lithium can activate or inhibit survival signaling pathways depending on the cell type. In this study, we analyzed the mechanisms by which lithium can modulate events related to colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and evaluated the role that survival signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt and PTEN play in this context. We show that the administration of lithium decreased the proliferative potential of CRC cells in a GSK-3β-independent manner but induced the accumulation of cells in G2/M phase. Furthermore, high doses of lithium increased apoptosis, which was accompanied by decreased proteins levels of Akt and PTEN. Then, cells that were induced to overexpress PTEN were treated with lithium; we observed that low doses of lithium strongly increased apoptosis. Additionally, PTEN overexpression reduced proliferation, but this effect was minor compared with that in cells treated with lithium alone. Furthermore, we demonstrated that PTEN overexpression and lithium treatment separately reduced cell migration, colony formation, and invasion, and these effects were enhanced when lithium treatment and PTEN overexpression were combined. In conclusion, our findings indicate that PTEN overexpression and lithium treatment cooperate to reduce the malignancy of CRC cells and highlight lithium and PTEN as potential candidates for studies to identify new therapeutic approaches for CRC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wallace Martins de Araujo
- Grupo de Biologia Estrutural, Divisão de Biologia Celular, Centro de Pesquisas, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rua André Cavalcanti, 37, 5andar, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Bruno Kaufmann Robbs
- Departamento de Ciências Básicas, Campus Universitário de Nova Friburgo, Universidade Federal Fluminense, UFF, Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Lilian G Bastos
- Grupo de Biologia Estrutural, Divisão de Biologia Celular, Centro de Pesquisas, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rua André Cavalcanti, 37, 5andar, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Waldemir F de Souza
- Grupo de Biologia Estrutural, Divisão de Biologia Celular, Centro de Pesquisas, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rua André Cavalcanti, 37, 5andar, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Flávia C B Vidal
- Banco de Tumores e DNA do Maranhão, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Rua Coelho Neto, 311, São Luís, MA, Brasil
| | - João P B Viola
- Grupo de Regulação Gênica, Programa de Biologia Celular, Centro de Pesquisas, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rua André Cavalcanti, 37, 5andar, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Jose A Morgado-Diaz
- Grupo de Biologia Estrutural, Divisão de Biologia Celular, Centro de Pesquisas, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rua André Cavalcanti, 37, 5andar, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
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10
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Antiproliferative Potential of Officinal Forms and Nanoparticles of Lithium Salts. Bull Exp Biol Med 2016; 160:827-30. [DOI: 10.1007/s10517-016-3320-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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11
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Li W, Li X, Xu S, Ma X, Zhang Q. Expression of Tim4 in Glioma and its Regulatory Role in LN-18 Glioma Cells. Med Sci Monit 2016; 22:77-82. [PMID: 26741116 PMCID: PMC4710195 DOI: 10.12659/msm.894963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tim4 is a transmembrane protein known as T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing protein-4. We speculated that Tim4 might be associated with glioma. This study aimed to investigate the expression level of Tim4 in gliomas and the regulatory role of Tim4 on the growth and apoptosis of LN-18 glioma cells. Material/Methods Tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues were collected from patients with glioma. The expression level of Tim4 mRNA and protein was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot analyses, respectively to evaluate their association with glioma. Tim4 was overexpressed or silenced by siRNA interference in cultured human glioma cells LN-18. The growth and apoptosis of LN-18 cells was detected by MTT assay and flow cytometry. The colony-forming ability of LN-18 cells was assessed by the colony formation assay. The collection of human tissues was approved by the Research Ethics Committee at the Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital and performed in strict accordance with international standards. All patients were required to sign the informed consent. Results The expression level of Tim4 mRNA and protein in tumor tissues was significantly higher compared with adjacent normal tissues. Antisense miRNA targeting Tim4 inhibited the growth of LN-18 cells, induced their apoptosis, and reduced their clonogenic capacity. In contrast, overexpression of Tim4 promoted the growth of LN-18 cells, inhibited their apoptosis, and enhanced their clonogenic potential. Conclusions The expression level of Tim-4 is closely associated with glioma. Decreased expression of Tim4 inhibited the growth and colony-forming ability of LN-18 cells and induced their apoptosis, whereas increased expression of Tim4 stimulated the growth and clonogenic potential of LN-18 cells and suppressed their apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiguo Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China (mainland)
| | - Xingang Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China (mainland)
| | - Shujun Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China (mainland)
| | - Xiangyu Ma
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China (mainland)
| | - Qiujie Zhang
- Department of Health, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China (mainland)
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12
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Valvassori SS, Tonin PT, Varela RB, Carvalho AF, Mariot E, Amboni RT, Bianchini G, Andersen ML, Quevedo J. Lithium modulates the production of peripheral and cerebral cytokines in an animal model of mania induced by dextroamphetamine. Bipolar Disord 2015; 17:507-17. [PMID: 25929806 DOI: 10.1111/bdi.12299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2014] [Accepted: 01/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Several recent studies have suggested that the physiopathology of bipolar disorder (BD) is related to immune system alterations and inflammation. Lithium (Li) is a mood stabilizer that is considered the first-line treatment for this mood disorder. The goal of the present study was to investigate the effects of Li administration on behavior and cytokine levels [interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)] in the periphery and brains of rats subjected to an animal model of mania induced by amphetamine (d-AMPH). METHODS Male Wistar rats were treated with d-AMPH or saline (Sal) for 14 days; on Day 8 of treatment, the rats were administered Li or Sal for the final seven days. Cytokine (IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α) levels were evaluated in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), serum, frontal cortex, striatum, and hippocampus. RESULTS The present study showed that d-AMPH induced hyperactivity in rats (p < 0.001), and Li treatment reversed this behavioral alteration (p < 0.001). In addition, d-AMPH increased the levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α in the frontal cortex (p < 0.001), striatum (p < 0.001), and serum (p < 0.001), and treatment with Li reversed these cytokine alterations (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Li modulates peripheral and cerebral cytokine production in an animal model of mania induced by d-AMPH, suggesting that its action on the inflammatory system may contribute to its therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira S Valvassori
- Laboratório de Neurociências, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Paula T Tonin
- Laboratório de Neurociências, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Roger B Varela
- Laboratório de Neurociências, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - André F Carvalho
- Department of Psychiatry and Translational Psychiatry Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Edemilson Mariot
- Laboratório de Neurociências, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Rafaela T Amboni
- Laboratório de Neurociências, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Bianchini
- Laboratório de Neurociências, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Monica L Andersen
- Departamento de Psicologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - João Quevedo
- Laboratório de Neurociências, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil.,Center for Experimental Models in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
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13
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Nery LR, Eltz NS, Hackman C, Fonseca R, Altenhofen S, Guerra HN, Freitas VM, Bonan CD, Vianna MRMR. Brain intraventricular injection of amyloid-β in zebrafish embryo impairs cognition and increases tau phosphorylation, effects reversed by lithium. PLoS One 2014; 9:e105862. [PMID: 25187954 PMCID: PMC4154875 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2013] [Accepted: 07/29/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder with no effective treatment and commonly diagnosed only on late stages. Amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation and exacerbated tau phosphorylation are molecular hallmarks of AD implicated in cognitive deficits and synaptic and neuronal loss. The Aβ and tau connection is beginning to be elucidated and attributed to interaction with different components of common signaling pathways. Recent evidences suggest that non-fibrillary Aβ forms bind to membrane receptors and modulate GSK-3β activity, which in turn phosphorylates the microtubule-associated tau protein leading to axonal disruption and toxic accumulation. Available AD animal models, ranging from rodent to invertebrates, significantly contributed to our current knowledge, but complementary platforms for mechanistic and candidate drug screenings remain critical for the identification of early stage biomarkers and potential disease-modifying therapies. Here we show that Aβ1-42 injection in the hindbrain ventricle of 24 hpf zebrafish embryos results in specific cognitive deficits and increased tau phosphorylation in GSK-3β target residues at 5dpf larvae. These effects are reversed by lithium incubation and not accompanied by apoptotic markers. We believe this may represent a straightforward platform useful to identification of cellular and molecular mechanisms of early stage AD-like symptoms and the effects of neuroactive molecules in pharmacological screenings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Roesler Nery
- ZebLab & Laboratório de Biologia e Desenvolvimento do Sistema Nervoso, Faculdade de Biociências, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Natalia Silva Eltz
- ZebLab & Laboratório de Biologia e Desenvolvimento do Sistema Nervoso, Faculdade de Biociências, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Cristiana Hackman
- ZebLab & Laboratório de Biologia e Desenvolvimento do Sistema Nervoso, Faculdade de Biociências, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Raphaela Fonseca
- ZebLab & Laboratório de Biologia e Desenvolvimento do Sistema Nervoso, Faculdade de Biociências, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Stefani Altenhofen
- ZebLab & Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Faculdade de Biociências, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Heydi Noriega Guerra
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Morais Freitas
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carla Denise Bonan
- ZebLab & Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Faculdade de Biociências, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Monica Ryff Moreira Roca Vianna
- ZebLab & Laboratório de Biologia e Desenvolvimento do Sistema Nervoso, Faculdade de Biociências, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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14
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Abstract
Lithium is an effective medication for the treatment of bipolar affective disorder. Accumulating evidence suggests that inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder and that lithium has anti-inflammatory effects that may contribute to its therapeutic efficacy. This article summarizes the studies which examined the effects of lithium on pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators. Some of the summarized data suggest that lithium exerts anti-inflammatory effects (e.g., suppression of cyclooxygenase-2 expression, inhibition of interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α production, and enhancement of IL-2 and IL-10 synthesis). Nevertheless, there is a large body of data which indicates that under certain experimental conditions lithium also exhibits pro-inflammatory properties (e.g., induction of IL-4, IL-6 and other pro-inflammatory cytokines synthesis). The reviewed studies utilized various experimental model systems, and it is thus difficult to draw an unequivocal conclusion regarding the effect of lithium on specific inflammatory mediators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Nassar
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry
and Pharmacology, and ‡School for Community
Health Professions − Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Abed N. Azab
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry
and Pharmacology, and ‡School for Community
Health Professions − Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
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15
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Watanabe S, Iga J, Nishi A, Numata S, Kinoshita M, Kikuchi K, Nakataki M, Ohmori T. Microarray analysis of global gene expression in leukocytes following lithium treatment. Hum Psychopharmacol 2014; 29:190-8. [PMID: 24590544 DOI: 10.1002/hup.2381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2013] [Accepted: 11/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To elucidate the molecular effects of lithium, we studied global gene expression changes induced by lithium in leukocytes from healthy subjects. METHODS Eight healthy male subjects participated in this study. Lithium was prescribed for weeks to reach a therapeutic serum concentration. Leukocyte counts and serum lithium concentrations were determined at baseline (before medication), after 1 and 2 weeks of medication and at 2 weeks after stopping medication. Gene expression profiling was performed at each time point using Agilent G4112F Whole Human Genome arrays (The Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA). Expression of some candidate genes was also assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS Gene ontology analysis revealed that the cellular and immune responses to stimulus and stress indeed played a major role in the cellular response to lithium treatment. Pathway analysis revealed that the interleukin 6 pathway, the inhibitor of differentiation pathway, and the methane metabolism pathway were regulated by lithium. Using real-time PCR, we also confirmed that five candidate genes in these pathways were significantly changed, including suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 and myeloperoxidase. CONCLUSIONS Our investigation suggests that the molecular action of lithium is mediated in part by its effects on the cellular and immune response to stimulus and stress followed by the interleukin 6, inhibitor of differentiation, and methane metabolism pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinya Watanabe
- Department of Psychiatry, Course of Integrated Brain Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan
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Lan Y, Liu X, Zhang R, Wang K, Wang Y, Hua ZC. Lithium enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human lung carcinoma A549 cells. Biometals 2013; 26:241-54. [PMID: 23378009 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-012-9607-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2012] [Accepted: 12/28/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cells are resistant to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis. Therefore, combination therapy using sensitizing agents to overcome TRAIL resistance may provide new strategies for treatment of NSCLC. Here, we investigated whether lithium chloride (LiCl), a drug for mental illness, could sensitize A549 cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. We observed that LiCl significantly enhanced A549 cells apoptosis through up-regulation of death receptors DR4 and DR5 and activation of caspase cascades. In addition, G2/M arrest induced by LiCl also contributed to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Concomitantly, LiCl strongly inhibited the activity of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), and the inhibition of JNKs by SP600125 also induced G2/M arrest and augmented cell death caused by TRAIL or TRAIL plus LiCl. However, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) inhibition was not involved in TRAIL sensitization induced by LiCl. Collectively, these findings indicated that LiCl sensitized A549 cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through caspases-dependent apoptotic pathway via death receptors signaling and G2/M arrest induced by inhibition of JNK activation, but independent of GSK3β.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lan
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
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